Folding table leg bracket



c. o. LARSON 2,796,268

\ FOLDING TABLE LEG BRACKET I June 18, 1957 Filed Jan. '18, 1955 2'6INVENTOR.

2,796,268 Foronro TABLE LEG BRACKET Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Ill.Application Eanuary 18, 195 5, erial No. 482,517

1 Claim. (Cl. 281-14) The present invention relates to a novel bracketstructure and more particularly, to a novel bracket structure adapted toconnect a leg member to a table top, bench or the like.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel sheetmaterial bracket structure for detachably and foldably connecting agenerally U-shaped leg member with a table top, bench or platform to besupported thereby.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bracketstructure of. the above described type which is formed so as releasablyto lock the leg member in either an extended operative position or afolded position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bracketstructure of the above described type which is rugged and which may beeasily formed from a single piece of sheet material or metal stock.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel leg memberand mounting bracket assembly which is constructed so that the legmember may be easily manipulated to and from extended and foldedpositions and locked in either position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a table embodying the novelstructure of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongline 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the novel bracket and legmember assembly shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bracket and leg assemblyembodying the slightly modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fi 2 but showing the modifiedembodiment of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an inverted perspective view of the structure shown in Figs. 4and 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another modified formof the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 7 connectedwith the table top;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another modifiedform of the present invention; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure of Fig. 9 secured tothe table top.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a tableIt incorporating the novel structure of this invention is shown in Fig.1 and includes a top 12 and a plurality of leg members 14. Each of theleg members 14 is in the form of a generally U-shaped metal rod havingleg portions 16 and 18. Each of the leg members is connected with thetable top by a bracket structure 24) which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The bracket member 20 is preferably formed from a 2,796,268 PatentedJune 18, 1957 single piece of sheet metal and includes a pair ofopposite horizontal end portions 22 and 24 for attachment to the bottomsurface of the table top. The attachment end portion 22 is provided witha plurality of triangularly arranged apertures 26, 28 and 30, and theportion 24 is provided with similarly arranged apertures. 32, 34 and 36.These apertures are adapted to receive screws 38 as shown in Fig. 2 forsecuring the bracket to the table top.

Depending from oppositely facing inner margins of the end portions 22and 24 are vertical portions 40 and 42, respectively, which havevertical margins integrally joined by a vertically disposed elongatedintermediate strap portion 44. In order pivotally to connect the legmember with the bracket, upper ends of the legs portions 16 and 18 arerespectively provided with oppositely and outwardly formed pivotportions 46 and 48 which are adapted to project through apertures formedin the vertical portions 40 and 42 of the bracket. It should be notedthat the leg member is formed so that the upper ends of the leg portions16 and 18 are normally spaced apart a distance greater than the lengthof the bracket portion 44, or in other words, greater than the distancebetween the bracket portions 40 and 42. Thus, the inherent resiliency ofthe metal from which the leg member is formed tends to spread the legportions apart and maintain the pivot portions 46 and 48 in associationwith their respective apertures in the bracket.

The bracket 20 is formed so as releasably to lock the leg member in theextended or vertical operative position shown in solid lines in Figs. 2and 3 and also to permit the leg to be manipulated to the horizontalfolded position shown in broken lines and to releasably lock the leg inthe folded position. In order to lock the leg member in the extendedposition, the vertical portions 40 and 42 are respectively provided withvertically disposed tabs or lugs 50 and 52 at their lower ends, whichtabs extend inwardly or toward each other and generally parallel to thestrap portion 44. The spacing between the tabs and the strap portion 44is similar to the thickness or diameter of the leg member bar stockwhereby the tabs respectively cooperate with the strap portion 44 tolock the leg portions 16 and 18 in the extended position. However, theleg member may be easily unlocked by an operator merely by collapsingthe leg portions 16 and 18 toward each other until they clear the tabs.It should be noted that the pivot portions 46 and 48 of the leg memberare preferably substantially longer than the tabs 50 and 52 so that whenthe leg portions 16 and 18 have been collapsed to unlock the leg member,the pivot portions are still associated with their respective bracketapertures whereby the leg member may be easily swung to its closedposition. The leg member is locked in the folded position by means ofhorizontal inwardly extending tabs 54 and 56 provided on the verticalportions 40 and 42, respectively. As will be understood, these tabs arespaced beneath the attachment end portions 22 and 24 a distance greaterthan the thickness of the leg member bar stock so that they may extendbeneath the leg portions when the leg member is in the folded position.The length of the tabs 54 and 56 is also such that the leg portion 16and 18 may be collapsed and moved'either toward or away from the foldedposition while the pivot portions 46 and 48 remain associated with thebracket.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, there is shown a modification of the presentinvention which is similar. to the above described structure asindicated by the application of identical reference numeral with thesuffix a added to corresponding elements. In this embodiment the abovedescribed tabs 50 and 54 have been replaced by a single diagonallydisposed tab 60 and the tabs 52 and 56 have been replaced by adiagonally disposed tab 62. As shown best in Fig. 6 wherein the bracketis inverted from its normal position, the tab 60 is provided with asubstantially straight bottom edge 64 which is adapted to engage the legportion 16a and lock the leg member in its extended position, and acurved cam edge 66. It should be noted that the tab 62 is reverselyformed, or in other words, is provided with a substantially straightupper edge 68 for locking the leg member in its folded position and acurved cam edge 70. With this structure it is seen that when the legmember is in the folded position as shown in Fig. 6', the tab edge 68engages beneath the leg portion 18a and locks the leg member, and inorder to swing the leg member to the extended position, it is merelynecessary for the operator to flex the leg portion 18a inwardly to clearthe edge 68 and then force the leg toward the extended position. As theleg is forced toward the extended position, the cam surface 66 on thetab 60 forces the leg portion 16a inwardly to permit it to move aroundthe tab. When the leg member is in the extended position and locked bythe edge 64 on the tab 6!), it may be swung back to the folded positionmerely by first flexing or collapsing the leg 16a inwardly to clear theedge 64 and then forcing the leg member toward the folded position,which action causes the cam edge 70 on the tab 62 to force the legportion 18a inwardly until it passes around the tab.

Figs. 7 and 8 show another modified form of the present invention whichis similar to the above described structures as indicated by theapplication of identical reference numerals with the suffix b added tocorresponding elements. In this embodiment, the connecting strap portion44b is horizontally disposed rather than vertically disposed and isintegrally connected with horizontal bottom edges of the verticalportion 40b and 42b. In order to releasably lock the leg portions 16band 18b in their extended positions, the strap portion 44b is providedwith a pair of generally L-shaped slots 72 and 74 which are defined inpart by tabs 76 and 78, respectively. It will be appreciated that theleg member may be manipulated to and from the extended and foldedpositions by collapsing the leg portions so that they clear the tabs 76and 78. A tab 79 is struck from the portion 42b for locking the legmember in the folded position as shown in Fig. 8. While the bracketstructure 2% thu far described has suflicient strength and rigidity formany uses, in certain instances it is desirable to increasesubstantially the strength and rigidity. This is accomplished in aneconomical manner by providing a pair of angle members 80 and 81,respectively, including portions 83 and 85 overlying and welded toattachment parties 22b and 24b. The members 80 and 81 extend over theslots 72 and 74 and respectively terminate in depending portions 87 and89 which are welded to and strengthens the strap portion 44b adjacentthe slots. It will be appreciated that the angle members 80 and 81cooperate with the strap portion 44b and the portions 406 and 426,respectively, to provide the bracket with box-like portions which arevery strong and rigid.

Figs. 9 and l'show another embodiment of the present invention in whichelements corresponding-to the above described element are indicated byidentical reference numerals with the suffix 0 added. In thisembodiment, the connecting strap portion 44c merges directly with theattachment end portions 220 and 24c, and the vertical portions 40c and42c depend from outer margins of the attachment portions. A pair of tabs82 and 84 with a slot 86 therebetween extends inwardly from the lowermargin of the vertical portion 490 and a similar pair of tabs 88 and 90with a slot 92 therebetween extends inwardly from the lower margin ofthe vertical portion 420. When the leg member is moved to the extendedposition, the leg portions 16c and 18c enter the slot 86 and 92,respectively, and are locked against swinging movement. It will beappreciated that the leg member may be swung to' a folded position afterfirst compressing the legs 16c and 18c to clear the tabs. It should benoted that with the structure of this embodiment, the leg member may beswung selectively in either direction from the extended position sincethe connecting strap portion 440 has been positioned to avoidinterference with the leg member. The portions 40c and 420 are providedwith a second set of apertures 94 and 96 disposed adjacent the tabs. Ifdesired, the pivot portions of the leg member may be removed from theapertures in which they are pivotally mounted and inserted into theapertures 94 and 96 with the leg member in the folded position. Whenthis is done, the relative position of the tabs and leg portions is suchthat the tabs lock the leg members in the horizontal position shown bybroken lines in Fig. 10.

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention hasprovided a novel one-piece sheet material bracket structure which may beeconomically manufactured and which is formed effectively to lock a legmember in either an extended position or a folded position. It is alsoseen that the present invention has provided a novel assembly includinga bracket structure and a U-shaped metal leg member, which assembly isconstructed so that the leg member may be easily swung to and fromextended and folded positions and locked in either position in a securemanner.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may bechanged without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaim.

The invention is claimed as follows:

A sheet material bracket adapted to be attached by means of screws orthe like to the underside of a member to be supported and for mounting agenerally U- shaped leg member having spaced leg portions with laterallyextending pivot portions at their upper ends; and comprising a pair ofrelatively narrow spaced horizontal attachment portions having aperturestherethrough for receiving attachment screws or the like, a pair ofspaced relatively narrow vertical portions respectively integral withand depending from the inner ends of said attachment portions and havingpivot apertures adjacent their upper margins for receiving the pivotportions of the leg member, a relatively narrow connecting portionintegral with the lower margins of said vertical portions and extendingtherebetween in otfset relation with respect to the attachment portions,each end of said connecting portion adjacent the corresponding verticalportion having a substantially L-shaped slot opening along one edge ofthe connecting portion with a tab portion to partially close the slotand operating to receive and releasably confine the leg member in asupporting position, one of said vertical portions including an integraltab struck from the material thereof intermediate the upper and lowermargins thereof and extending in the direction of the adjacent tabportion of the slot and disposed below the adjacent pivot aperture forunderlying and releasably holding the leg member in folded position, anda pair of relatively narrow supplemental angle members, one associatedwith each of the aforesaid attachment portions, and each angle memberincluding a horizontal arm overlying and connected to an associatedattachment portion with apertures aligned with the apertures therein andextending inwardly to overlie the adjacent slot, and each angle memberfurther including a substantially right angled vertical arm directedtoward and secured to the offset connecting portion with the adjacentslot located between the arm and the associated vertical portion, saidangle members with their horizontal and vertical arms providing inconjunction with the associated vertical portion spaced apart rigidbox-like structures straddling the adjacent slot and forming struts forthe connecting portion at the end areas which have been weakened'by theslots formed therein.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED-STATES PATENTS 1,300,861 Otte Apr. 15, 1919 3 3 1,300,8620116 Apr. 15, 1919 5 1,309,774 Otte July 15, 1919 1,770,500 Wege July15, 1930 12,335 1,858,381 Vance May 17, 1932 237,065 1,939,459 MurrayDec. 12, 1933 6 Weston July 14, 1936 Keahey Aug. 4, 1942 Schaffer Nov.13, 1951 Marsilius May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1910Germany July 20, 1911

